Enhanced visualization illumination system

ABSTRACT

A first light source producing a first light beam with a first intensity and a second light source producing a second light beam with a second intensity. A light filter device receives the first light beam and transmits a filtered portion of the first light beam. A first angling device reflects the filtered portion of the first light beam in a first angled direction and a second angling device reflects the second light beam in a second angled direction. A mirror receives and in turn reflects the filtered portion of the first light beam reflected by the first angling device and the second light beam reflected by the second angling device to form a converged light beam with a third intensity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/938,233, filed Nov. 9, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/858,176 filed on Nov. 10,2006. The foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an illumination system for surgery, andmore particularly, to an illumination system for enhanced lightingconditions for ophthalmic surgery.

BACKGROUND

During surgical procedures, a surgeon depends on an operating microscopeand an illuminating light source, such as, for example, anendoilluminator, to visualize the anatomical structures of the eye onwhich an operation is being conducted. If the surgeon experienceslimited visibility in posterior eye procedures, the current protocol isto generally increase the intensity of the illuminating light source. Inthis regard, the medical illumination industry offers light sources withhigher intensities.

The higher intensity light source, however, is not always sufficient toaccurately view the fundus of the eye. The fundus is in the posteriorsection of the human eye, which includes the retina, blood vessels, theoptic nerve, the choroid, and the like. Each of these anatomicalfeatures has a specific color when viewed with an operating microscope.During surgery, some structures can be easily seen. However otherfeatures can potentially be washed out with the bright white light ofthe endoilluminator.

Current attempts to overcome this problem are unsophisticated andgenerally involve the use of red-free light to visualize certainfeatures of the fundus such as the retinal blood vessels and pathologicfocal atrophy of the nerve fiber layer. Accordingly, what is desired isan illumination system that improves the quality, intensity, andcontrast of light to provide surgeons with better illumination duringophthalmic surgery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is directed towardan enhanced illumination system that improves the quality, intensity,and contrast of light.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an enhanced illuminationsystem including: a light source configured to produce a light beam; anangling device configured to receive light produced by the light sourceand configured to be adjusted to a first position for reflecting atleast a portion of the light beam in a first angled direction, andfurther configured to be adjusted to a second position for allowing thelight beam to bypass the angling device; a mirror configured to reflectat least a portion of the light beam in response to the angling devicebeing adjusted to the first position; a first output port for outputtingthe at least a portion of the light beam reflected by the mirror; and asecond output port for outputting the light beam bypassing the anglingdevice in response to the angling device being adjusted to the secondposition.

The enhanced illumination system may further include a light filterconfigured to receive the first light beam and generate a filtered lightbeam for transmitting to the first angling device.

The enhanced illumination system may further include a coupling systemconfigured to couple the portion of the light beam to an optical fibercoupled to the first output port.

The enhanced illumination system may further include a shutterconfigured to receive the light beam from the light source and adjust anintensity of the light beam.

The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.

The angling device may include a mirror or a beam splitter.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an enhancedillumination system including: a first light source configured toproduce a first light beam with a first intensity; a second light sourceconfigured to produce a second light beam with a second intensity; atleast one light filter device configured to receive the first light beamand transmit a filtered portion of the first light beam; a first anglingdevice configured to be adjusted to a first position for reflecting thefiltered portion of the first light beam in a first angled direction; asecond angling device configured to be adjusted to a second position forreflecting at least a portion of the second light beam in a secondangled direction; a mirror configured to receive and reflect at leastthe filtered portion of the first light beam reflected by the firstangling device and at least a portion of the second light beam forforming a converged light beam with a third intensity; and an outputport for outputting the converged light beam.

The light filter device may be configured to filter out light ofparticular bandwidths.

The enhanced illumination may further include a coupling systemconfigured to couple the converged light beam to an optical fibercoupled to the output port.

The enhanced illumination may further include a first shutter configuredto adjust the first intensity of the first light source and a secondshutter configured to adjust the second intensity of the second lightsource.

The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.

The angling device may be a mirror or a beam splitter.

The converged light beam may converge bandwidth limited light from thefirst light source with substantially white light from the second lightsource.

The third intensity of the converged light beam may be greater than thefirst or second intensity alone.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method forgenerating enhanced illumination that includes: producing by a firstlight source a first light beam with a first intensity; producing by asecond light source a second light beam with a second intensity;receiving the first light beam by a light filter device and transmittinga filtered portion of the first light beam; reflecting by a firstangling device the filtered portion of the first light beam in a firstangled direction; reflecting by a second angling device at least aportion of the second light beam in a second angled direction; receivingand reflecting by a mirror to reflect at least the filtered portion ofthe first light beam reflected by the first angling device and at leastthe portion of the second light beam reflected by the second anglingdevice for forming a converged light beam with a third intensity; andoutputting the converged light beam at an output port.

The method may further include configuring a first lens system to couplethe first light beam to a first optical fiber, configuring a second lenssystem to couple the second light beam to a second optical fiber, andconfiguring a third lens system to couple the converged light beam to athird optical fiber.

The method may further include configuring a first shutter to adjust thefirst intensity of the first light source and configuring a secondshutter to adjust the second intensity of the second light source.

The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.

The angling device may be a mirror or a beam splitter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination controlsystem according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a more detailed schematic diagram of an enhanced illuminationsystem in the enhanced illumination control system of FIG. 1 accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an enhanced illumination systemaccording to an alternative embodiment of the invention with one lightsource coupled to an angling device;

FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination systemwith an angling device positioned in the bypass position;

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination systemwith two angling devices positioned in a bypass position; and

FIG. 3 is a photographic image of an enhanced illumination systemaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Surgeons generally need high intensity light to perform different typesof eye surgeries, including vitreo retinal procedures. In a vitreoretinal procedure, the vitreous is removed by using smallinstrumentation through small openings (e.g. sclerotomies) in the wallof the eye. This procedure is commonly referred to as a pars planavitrectomy. However, illumination through small sclerotomies inside thedark cavity of the eyeball is a challenge. In some cases, opacitiesinside the eye further degrade visualization. In addition, certainanatomical features of the fundus are not visible with the white lightemitted via the illumination source.

According to one embodiment, bandwidth limited light may be used toenhance visualization of the fundus. For example, red-free light may beused for enhancing fundus photography and examination of the nerve fiberlayer. Bandwidth limited light may also improve the contrast of fundusdetails and reduce (or eliminate) the loss of image quality associatedwith chromatic aberrations. Furthermore, the visualization anddocumentation of fundus structures may be improved and details may bedistinguished which would otherwise be invisible with white light. Theuse of bandwidth limited light therefore improves the ability todifferentiate fundus details by observing changes in their appearanceunder different bandwidths. Further, structures may be more accuratelylocalized with regard to depth in the stratified layers of the fundus.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention are directedto an enhanced illumination system that combines two or more lightsources to provide different light quality, intensities, contrasts,and/or colors. Thus, depending on the particular need during surgery,the surgeon may manipulate the enhanced illumination system to combinethe output of the two or more light sources into a single output thatprovides light that is enhanced or otherwise different over what wouldbe output with only one of the light sources. The surgeon may alsomanipulate the enhanced illumination system to invoke only one of thelight sources to provide white light or bandwidth limited light. Thus,the various lighting needs of the surgeon during different parts of thesurgery may be met via the single enhanced illumination system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination controlsystem according to one embodiment of the invention. The system includesan illumination system 16 coupled to a computer 12 over a datacommunications link 14. The communications link 14 may be a direct wire,an infrared data port, a wireless communications link, local areanetwork link, or any other communications medium known in the art.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the illumination systemincludes various output ports (or channels) 18 a, 18 b, 18 c configuredto be coupled to one or more illumination outputs 20 a, 20 b, 20 c suchas, for example, a fiber optic cable or light pipe. According to oneexemplary embodiment, output port A is configured to output white lightof a specified intensity, output port B is configured to output light oflimited bandwidth, and output port C is configured to output light thatis a combination of the light that would be output at port A and thatwould be output at port B. As a result, the light output at port C maybe a light that has an intensity greater than what is output at port Aor port B alone. In addition, the light that is output at port C may belight that is tinted as a result of the combination of the white lightoutput at port A and the bandwidth limited light output at port B. Ofcourse, a person of skill in the art should understand that port A maybe configured so that in addition or in lieu of the white light that isoutput by port A, port A may also be configured to output bandwidthlimited light. In addition, port B may be configured so that in additionor in lieu of the bandwidth limited light that is output by port B, portB may also be configured to output white light.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the computer 12 isconfigured with a memory containing computer program instructions thatare executed by a processor for configuring and controlling theillumination system 16. The computer program instructions may provide,for example, a graphical user interface (GUI) which allows the user toview, set, and modify different parameters for controlling the lightthat is output via the output ports 18 a, 18 b, 18 c. A user inputdevice 10 coupled to the computer 12, such as, for example, a keypad,keyboard, stylus, and the like, facilitates user control of thedifferent parameters. The computer may also provide a screen thatincorporates pressure-sensitive (touch screen) technology so that a usermay view, set, and modify the different parameters by merely touchingcertain portions of the screen.

For example, the GUI may provide a turn on/off parameter for port A,turn on/off parameter for port B, light intensity parameter for port A,light intensity parameter for port B, filter selection parameter forport A, filter selection parameter for port B, and/or select/deselectparameter for port C. Each of these parameters may be set by a doctor ornurse prior to or during a particular ophthalmic procedure. According toone embodiment of the invention, computer program instructions areprovided to process the entered parameters and transmit appropriatecommands to the enhanced illumination system 16 for causing a desiredtype of illumination to be output via the selected port.

According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more mechanicalbuttons or switches may be provided by the illumination system 16 forbeing directly manipulated by a user in order to configure and set thevarious lighting parameters.

FIG. 2A is a more detailed schematic diagram of the enhancedillumination system 16 according to one embodiment of the invention. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the enhanced illumination systemincludes a light source A 50 and a light source B 66 which respectivelyemit light beam A and light beam B. Light beam A and light beam B areconverged downstream into light beam C and output via output port C 18c. According to one embodiment, converged light beam C has an intensitygreater than the intensity of light beam A or light beam B alone.

More specifically, light source A 50 may emit light beam A through amechanical shutter 52 that has an opening area that may be increased ordecreased to respectively increase or decrease light intensity based onmonitoring of the light path via a feedback system (not shown), and/orone or more commands from the computer 12. A person of skill in the artshould understand that the mechanical shutter 52 may take any formconventional in the art. Light source A may be a halogen lamp, metalhalide lamp, xenon, lamp, em-arc lamp, LED, or any other light sourceconventional in the art.

The light emitted from light source A is focused and collimated via alens system 54. According to one embodiment of the invention, the lenssystem 54 is formed via one or more concave, convex, and/or meniscuslens, which allow increased coupling of the light beam A.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the collimated light beamA is received and reflected by an angling device 58. The angling device58 may take the form of a mirror, beam splitter, or any like deviceconventional in the art that is capable of being rotated into aparticular angle to allow light to be reflected onto one or more mirrors64. According to one embodiment of the invention the light reflected bythe angling device 58 is received by a single curved mirror and is inturn reflected by the mirror onto a coupling system 80. According toanother embodiment of the invention, two flat mirrors placed at an anglemay replace the single curved mirror.

The coupling system 80 focuses and collimates light beam A into outputport C 18 c. Output port C may be, for example, an optical fiberchannel.

The coupling system 80 also focuses and collimates light beam B fromlight source B 66. Light source B may be of a type similar to lightsource A. In this regard, light source B emits light through amechanical shutter 68 which may be similar to the mechanical shutter 52for light source A. The light emitted from the light source 66 isfocused and collimated via a lens system 70 which may be similar to thelens system 54 for light source A.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one light filterdevice 72, such as a filter or a filter wheel including multiplefilters, is placed in the path of collimated light beam B. According toone embodiment of the invention, the filter device 72 is adjusted basedon one or more commands from the computer 12 to allow all or onlycertain bandwidths of the collimated light beam B to pass through. Forexample, the filter device 72 may block red light and allow other colorsof light beam B to pass to generate a substantially red-free light. Thefilter device 72 may also be adjusted to allow or block other colors oflight. The generating of a bandwidth dependent wavelength helps improvethe viewing of the different structures of the fundus of the eye. Thelight filtering device 72 may also act as an attenuator to control lightintensity.

According to one embodiment of the invention, light passing through thelight filter device 72 is received and reflected by an angling device 76which may be similar to the angling device 58 for light source A. Theangling device 76 is rotated to a particular position for allowing thelight beam to be reflected onto the mirror 64 and onto the couplingsystem 80. In this manner, light beam A and light beam B are combined inoutput port C 18C to generate a light beam C which has a greaterintensity than light beam A or light beam B alone. In addition, thecombination of light beam A in the form of a white light and light beamB in the form of a limited bandwidth light results in light beam C whichis referred to a tinted light. Tinted light is beneficial because itenhances the contrast of fundus details.

In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling system 80 isreplaced with a 2×1 optical coupler that combines light beam A and lightbeam B to light beam C.

Although the enhanced illumination system described with respect to FIG.2A includes angling devices 58, 76 for both light source A 50 and lightsource B 66, a person of skill in the art should recognize that only oneof the light sources may be coupled to the angling device.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an enhanced illumination system 16 aaccording to an alternative embodiment of the invention where only oneof the light sources is coupled to an angling device. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2B, only light source A is coupled to the anglingdevice 58, causing light beam A to reflect onto the mirror 64 for beingoutput via output port C as light beam C. Light source B is not coupledto the angling device. Thus, light beam B is focused and collimated by acoupling system 78 which may be similar to the coupling system 80 foroutput via output port B.

Alternatively, instead of eliminating one or more angling devices, theone or more of the angling devices may be configured to be rotated intoa first position when convergence of light beams is desired, and rotatedinto a second bypass position when convergence is not desired.

FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination system16 b with one of the angling devices positioned in the bypass position.According to this embodiment, the angling device 76 associated withlight source B is placed in the bypass position in response to one ormore commands from the computer 12. When placed in the bypass position,the angling device 76 is not in the path of light beam B. As a result,light beam B is received by the coupling system 78 which focuses andcollimates the light into the output port B.

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced illumination system16 c with both of the angling devices positioned in the bypass position.According to this embodiment, both the angling device 58 and the anglingdevice 76 are placed in the bypass position. In this regard, neither theangling device 58 nor the angling device 76 is in the path of light beamA or light beam B. As a result, light beam A is received by a couplingsystem 62 which focuses and collimates the light into the output port A,and light beam B is received by the coupling system 78 which focuses andcollimates the light into the output port B.

FIG. 3 is a photographic image of an enhanced illumination system 16 caccording to another embodiment of the invention. According to thisembodiment, a mirror 110 and angling devices 100 a and 100 b are mountedon a rotation device 112. In this regard, the angling devices 100 a and100 b are rotated to a particular position for allowing the light beamsA and B to be reflected onto the mirror 110 and combine in output port C18C to generate a light beam C. Alternatively, the rotation device 112may be rotated so that the mirror 110 and angling devices 100 a and 100b are placed in a bypass position. In this regard, neither the anglingdevice 100 a or angling device 100 b is in the path of light beam A orlight beam B. As a result, light beam A is output via output port A 18 aand light beam B is output via output port B 18 b. A fan 50 may also beincluded to cool the enhanced illumination system 16.

In another embodiment of the invention a sensor system coupled to one ormore of the light sources may be used to monitor the bulb functionalityand spectrum stability of the one or more light sources.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the enhanced illuminationsystem is integrated into a vitrectomy machine. The integration into thevitrectomy machine provides practical advantages from an economic,transportability, ergonomic, and usability standpoint. Furthermore, theenhanced illumination system is designed to give the surgeon the optionof using a single light source to cause light to be output by eitheroutput port A or output port B, or a combination of two light sourcesfor complimentary illumination via output port C. For example, during aportion of a surgery that requires only white light of a desiredintensity, the surgeon may cause the computer 14 to transmit commands tothe illumination system to actuate port A for outputting white lightwith the desired intensity. In this regard, the angling device 58 may berotated to be in a bypass mode, and ports B and C may be disabled. Ifhowever, instead of white light, bandwidth limited light is desired, thesurgeon may alter the settings of the computer to cause the computer totransmit commands to the illumination system to actuate port B foroutputting limited bandwidth light. In addition, if during a differentportion of the surgery tinted light is desired for better visibility ofthe internal structures of the fundus, the surgeon may alter thesettings of the computer to cause the computer to transmit commands torotate the angling devices 58, 76 to be in angled positions to causeconvergence of the white light from light source A and the bandwidthlimited light from light source B, and actuate port C to cause output ofthe converged light via port C that is tinted for better contrast andhas a higher intensity than the intensity allowed by light source A or Balone. Of course, a person of skill in the art should recognize thatwhite light of higher intensity may also be provided by disabling thefilter device coupled to light source B, and causing the convergence ofwhite lights from light source A and light source B.

A person of skill in the art should recognize that the claimed enhancedillumination system allows for a high optical output intensity, inaddition to improved visualization. For example, the use of bandwidthlimited wavelength light allows physicians to operate with improvedcontrast for visualization of specific structures in the eye. Additionalfeatures include controlling not only the intensity, but also thequality of the light, which is improved by changing the color (or colortemperature) of the light from the light source via the filter device72, with the light produced from one or more channels.

The illumination system allows for various novel applications, includinguse inside the operating room or outside the operating room (officebased procedures) for not only ophthalmic procedures but any otherprocedure that may or may not relate to a human body by providing a highintensity output. The illumination system also allows for improvedstructural viewing by color contrasts, one or more outputs (withvariable intensity and color), compatibility with numerous light sources(such as halogen, metal halide, xenon and em-arc), and/or constantmonitoring of the status of the light source.

Furthermore, to those skilled in the various arts, the invention itselfherein will suggest other variations to the described embodiment whichin no way depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Forexample, although a filter wheel is depicted as being coupled to onlylight source B, a person of skill in the art should recognize that thefilter wheel may also be coupled to light source A. Furthermore, asingle light source or more than two light sources may be used inalternative embodiments of the enhanced illumination system in providinglight beams A and B. In another embodiment, the enhanced illuminationsystem may be implemented without the lens system. Furthermore, a personof skill in the art should also recognize that the various components ofthe enhanced illumination system of the above embodiments may beimplemented as separate physical components, or one or more of thefunctionalities of the various components combined into a singlephysical component or housed in a single physical housing.

Furthermore, to those skilled in the various arts, the invention itselfherein will suggest solutions to other tasks and adaptations for otherapplications. It is the Applicants' intention to cover all such uses ofthe invention and those changes and modifications which could be made tothe embodiments of the invention herein chosen for the purpose ofdisclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. An enhanced illumination system comprising: a light source configuredto produce a light beam; an angling device configured to receive lightproduced by the light source and configured to be adjusted to a firstposition for reflecting at least a portion of the light beam in a firstangled direction, and further configured to be adjusted to a secondposition for allowing the light beam to bypass the angling device; amirror configured to reflect at least a portion of the light beam inresponse to the angling device being adjusted to the first position; afirst output port for outputting the at least a portion of the lightbeam reflected by the mirror; and a second output port for outputtingthe light beam bypassing the angling device in response to the anglingdevice being adjusted to the second position.
 2. The enhancedillumination system of claim 1 further comprising a light filterconfigured to receive the first light beam and generate a filtered lightbeam for transmitting to the first angling device.
 3. The enhancedillumination system of claim 1, further comprising a coupling systemconfigured to couple the portion of the light beam to an optical fibercoupled to the first output port.
 4. The enhanced illumination system ofclaim 1, further comprising a shutter configured to receive the lightbeam from the light source and adjust an intensity of the light beam. 5.The enhanced illumination system of claim 1, wherein the mirror is asubstantially curved mirror.
 6. The enhanced illumination system ofclaim 1, wherein the angling device comprises a mirror.
 7. The enhancedillumination system of claim 1, wherein the angling device comprises abeam splitter.
 8. A method for generating enhanced illumination, themethod comprising: producing by a first light source a first light beamwith a first intensity; producing by a second light source a secondlight beam with a second intensity; receiving the first light beam by alight filter device and transmitting a filtered portion of the firstlight beam; reflecting by a first angling device the filtered portion ofthe first light beam in a first angled direction; reflecting by a secondangling device at least a portion of the second light beam in a secondangled direction; receiving and reflecting by a mirror at least thefiltered portion of the first light beam reflected by the first anglingdevice and at least the portion of the second light beam reflected bythe second angling device for forming a converged light beam with athird intensity; and outputting the converged light beam at an outputport.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring a firstlens system to couple the first light beam to a first optical fiber,configuring a second lens system to couple the second light beam to asecond optical fiber, and configuring a third lens system to couple theconverged light beam to a third optical fiber.
 10. The method of claim8, further comprising configuring a first shutter to adjust the firstintensity of the first light source and configuring a second shutter toadjust the second intensity of the second light source.
 11. The methodof claim 8, wherein the mirror is a substantially curved mirror.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the angling device comprises a mirror. 13.The method of claim 8, wherein the angling device comprises a beamsplitter.